Spring Breakers

Each country seems to have their own version of a holiday for teenagers. In Australia it is Schoolies Week. In America it is Spring Break.
Wild vacations where teenagers go to get drunk, have lots of sex and take drugs are not events that interest me. Only one of those things really holds my interest. What I liked most about the film was that on the surface this looks like any typical teenage film about sex and drugs, but Harmony Korine has made it in a very arty way. I have not seen any of Harmony's previous films as they kind of scare me a little. They look to be too weird even for me. But Harmony has managed to tone down his weirdness with this film and made something that would appeal to a more broader audience. I also liked how the story unfolded too in a fairly non-conventional way.
The biggest thrill it seems for watching this film is to see a couple of once sweet and innocent actresses break loose. Vanessa Hudgens has been gradually taking roles that lead to more hardcore stuff like this. Because she has blonde hair it did not look like her. She does give an excellent performance and seems to be maturing as an actress. Selena Gomez has taken a bigger step with her career in taking this film. Her character is the sweet little religious girl so in some ways it is not that big a leap. Selena is excellent though and her characters struggle with her friend's behavior and religion is one of the films more interesting points. Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine do a good job as well but I think because of their lack of appeal I did not see anything special in their performance. The best thing in the film though is James Franco. The strange thing about him is that I'm not sure if he is acting. I could almost imagine that this is what James is really like. Perhaps a hyped up version but if all the gossip is to be believed then this character is not too far off. But the character of Alien is very dynamic and James does a brilliant job with it. He goes to places that you never expect the character to go.
An unconventional teen film about their big spring party. Fans of Vanessa and Selena will get a thrill out of it but there is enough to keep others interested as well.